Journal of economic studies Vol. 29, No. 4/5, Eugen Duhring (1833-1921) and the freedom of teaching and research

In 1877, the Prussian Minister of Culture, on application of the Faculty ofPhilosophy of the University of Berlin, removed Dr Eugen Du ̈hring’s venialegendi, the permission to teach, and the related status of Privatdozent. Thisrather unique act at one of the world’s preeminent universities, which involvedstill-today famous figures, and which attracted widespread attention, will bestudied as a case in this essay. The attempt is to see, to the extent that thisis possible, what really happened – for which some contextual explanation isnecessary – and whether, by the standards of 1877, the remotion wasboth legal and legitimate. Using a simple version of the latter dichotomy(see Creifelds, 1996, ‘‘Legalita ̈ t’’, p. 770), I mean by legal, in accordance with theexisting laws, both ‘‘in letter and spirit’’, and by legitimate, in accordance withan ethical-normative standard, preferably that of the protagonists. Jurgen Backhaus Previously published in: Journal of Economic Studies, Volume 29, Number 4/5, 2002 This e-book is a Festschrift which explores the life, influence and fall from grace of Duhring, a German academic, on the identity of universities and academic freedom. The papers come from a Maastricht conference on Duhring. Marx and Engels were both involved in Duhring's fall from favour and loss of his license to teach. One paper compares the case with a more recent UK one (1997) and explores the effect of "political correctness" on today's academic freedoms. Although rooted in Duhring's experiences in the 19th century and within economic and philosophy circles this discussion has wider implications for academics and their rights In 1877, the Prussian Minister of Culture, on application of the Faculty ofPhilosophy of the University of Berlin, removed Dr Eugen Du ḧring's venialegendi, the permission to teach, and the related status of Privatdozent. Thisrather unique act at one of the world's preeminent universities, which involvedstill-today famous figures, and which attracted widespread attention, will bestudied as a case in this essay Title from ebook title screen (viewed August 31, 2005).